Chicago's 98-year-old pinball wizard

Gary Stern, owner of Stern Pinball, next to an unfinished pinball machines in the company's factory in Melrose Park. Stern Pinball is the last factory in the world still making pinball machines.

Gary Stern, owner of Stern Pinball, next to an unfinished pinball machines in the company's factory in Melrose Park. Stern Pinball is the last factory in the world still making pinball machines. (Tribune photo by Lane Christiansen)

Steve Kordek, 97, stands with a plaque at his home on the northwest side of Chicago. He says the plaque recognizes that he was the first to add flippers at the bottom of pinball machines, with his flippers pointing away from each other.

Steve Kordek, 97, stands with a plaque at his home on the northwest side of Chicago. He says the plaque recognizes that he was the first to add flippers at the bottom of pinball machines, with his flippers pointing away from each other. (Tribune photo by Alex Garcia)

Chicago has long been the world capital of pinball and continues to be the home of the sole American pinball manufacturer, Stern Pinball, Inc. Legendary designer Steve Kordek revolutionized the pinball game by adding dual flippers in 1948 and still remains a Chicagoan through and through. .